Thompson, Elizabeth (nee Morgan) (1843-1900)

Transcription of Obituary In the Christian Messenger

ELIZABETH THOMPSON, of Motcombe, was born at Mere, in 1843. She found peace through believing at the age of twenty-one, and at once joined our Church. On marrying, the family altar was at once erected, and with her husband she always conducted the worship and successfully strove to make her home a Christian and therefore a happy home. As a wife she was a helpmeet indeed, and eternity alone will reveal the extent of the help and comfort she rendered to her husband for the thirty-five years of their married life. As a mother she was self-denying, thoughtful and loving, and she had the joy of seeing nine out of ten children profess to be saved. Knowing the evils resulting from intoxicating drink she was a consistent and earnest total abstainer. As a member of the church she took a deep interest in the welfare of the cause, and at great self-sacrifice, when the family was large and her husband’s wages small, always paid their class money. She did not allow small difficulties to keep her from the class-meeting, but would bring the youngest children with her rather than miss that means of grace. The Missionary cause was dear to her and she always encouraged her children to collect and give to that Christlike work. Like many of God’s loved ones she was called to endure a long and trying illness, but she bore her suffering with cheerful resignation, and it was a means of grace to visit her and converse and pray with her. She had no fear of death, but spoke of it as a friend rather than a foe. Though conscious of her unworthiness she rejoiced that she was accepted in the Beloved. Her confidence in God never wavered. And when the end came on August 10th, 1900, she was ready. Among her last words were: ‘I’m coming Jesus,  I’m coming‘ – a beautiful finish to a blessed life. Her mortal remains were committed to the grave on August 12th, by the vicar and Rev. T. Phelps, and on the following Sunday evening Mr. Phelps preached a memorial sermon to a large and sympathetic congregation. May her husband, a useful local preacher, and the members of her family be re-united in Heaven, and may we all follow her as she followed Christ.

T.P.

Family and other information

Elizabeth was born abt 1843 at Mere, Wiltshire, to parents Edward and Ann. Edward was an agricultural carter in 1861. Elizabeth was baptised on 11 February 1844 at Mere.

She married Henry Thompson (abt 1843-1904) in the spring of 1865 at Mere, Wiltshire. Henry was a labourer. Census returns identify eleven children.

• Martha (abt1866-1914) – married Arthur Spinney, a blacksmith, in 1892
• Seth (1867-1921) – a butcher’s assistant (1911)
• George (abt1869-1948) – a farm labourer (1911)
• Mary (b1870) – a butter maker (1891); married William Ford, a domestic gardener (1911), in 1894
• Frank (1872-1906) – a house painter
• Bessie (1873-1947) – married Edwin Charles Rogers, a labourer, in 1895
• Jane (1875-1945) – married Robert Scott, a travelling draper (1891), in 1896
• Eliza (1876-1960) – a house-keeper (1911)
• William (b1878) – a royal marine (1911)
• Edith (b1880)
• Garfield James (1886-1973) – resident at H.M.S. St. Vincent at the time of his marriage in 1915; a docker (1939)

References

Christian Messenger 1900/351

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers